Investment Urged in U-S Infrastructure to Create Jobs and Improve Economy

More than one-million jobs could be created if the U-S puts greater investment into its Energy Infrastructure, according to the American Petroleum Institute.

Robin Rorick, Executive Director of the API's Marine and Security Operations, said the nation is quickly becoming an energy super power in the world. "In 2010, the United States became the largest producer of natural gas and in 2015, we're projected to surpass Saudi Arabia as the largest producer in crude oil," said Rorick.

The API is looking at pipelines, water and rail ways that help deliver oil and natural gas products from where they're produced to where they need to be used. "We need to make sure we have a 21st Century infrastructure system that can match the 21st Century production of oil and gas," Rorick said, noting the more solid the infrastructure, the more resilient, and the more secure the nation's energy supply, so that when significant events happen, such as super storm Sandy, the system is as resilient as possible. "And we can get the products where they need to go efficiently and effectively and in a cost-effective manner," Rorick said.

Rorick said the resurgence of America as a resource super power comes with new and improved technology and new locations for oil sources in areas never before thought possible such as in North Dakota, West Texas, Ohio and Pennsylvania. "The Unites States is positioned to really take advantage of this resurgence in energy production," he said.

Maintaining and improving the infrastructure is necessary for maintaining the increased growth in the industry. "We're looking at energy infrastructure investments, over the next 11 years, we can anticipate as a nation, more than a trillion-dollars of capital investment," Rorick pointed out, "Then that translates to jobs and energy savings."

The U-S can expect more than a million jobs on an average annual basis in the energy infrastructure to support oil and natural gas development, according to Rorick. "And these are good paying jobs," he said. Earning potential is as high as $100,000 a year. Pipeline steel workers, as well as the shipping, food and beverage and hotel industries all stand to benefit.